Buyer received empty package!

[shopkiger]

I sold a sweatshirt a few days ago. The item was placed into a clear poly bag and shipped in another regular poly mailer. Today the buyer messaged me and said that she received an empty package and sent 3 photos of both the clear bag and the poly mailer empty with the poly mailer torn on the back. I've been reselling for 10 years and never had this happen before. How do I handle this one?

[shopkiger]

Thank you. I never thought of that.
I'd hate to think that she may be lying about it but sometimes you never really know.

[shopkiger]

I never knew about this. The package didn't appear to have a missing contents sticker but I will ask her if it did.

[shopkiger]

She opened a request for a refund.

[shopkiger]

Tracking shows delivered. She said she received nothing but the poly mailers. The package was clearly ripped open on the back with a hole larger than a softball. It doesn't look like there is a missing content sticker.

[shopkiger]

Thanks! I never knew the post office would do this.

[gamersbaystore]

Check the tracking, if the package was damaged USPS would have stated so in the tracking itself. This is a huge scam that's been going on for years, and ebay usually gives the buyer their money back.

You need to call ebay and let them know USPS claims the package was delivered intact. That's your only recourse.

Either way, I will not budge with this empty package scam nonsense, and I will not refund them! USPS doesn't lie.

[shopkiger]

I called ebay and before even getting a representative on the phone the case was closed in my favor. Now i'm just worried I may get a negative feedback over this. I'm sure it would be removed since ebay closed the case in my favor. I'd rather just refund than get a negative feedback. Every time I get a negative feedback my sales drop so much.

[shopkiger]

I called ebay and before a representative was on the phone they closed the case in my favor since the tracking information showed the item was delivered. They recommended that I tell the buyer to file a police report.

[7606dennis]

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@shopkiger wrote:
She opened a request for a refund

If she opened the request using one of the NOT AS DESCRIBED reasons, you will be required to pay the return shipping and refund upon return.  You can force her to return the empty packaging before refunding or if you think that she;s telling the truth, just refund without requiring the return.

[7606dennis]

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@shopkiger wrote:
Tracking shows delivered. She said she received nothing but the poly mailers. The package was clearly ripped open on the back with a hole larger than a softball. It doesn't look like there is a missing content sticker.

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Alas!  You have no way of determining if she didn't open the package when it arrived and remove the merchandise or if it actually arrived that way, so her pictures of it means nothing if they don't show a USPS mark indicating it arrived damaged.  If she request a return for a NOT AS DESCRIBED reason it is your word against hers and eBay will side with her.

[shopkiger]

Ebay closed the case in my favor since the tracking information confirmed delivery.

[zktalkj_0]

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@shopkiger wrote:

I sold a sweatshirt a few days ago. The item was placed into a clear poly bag and shipped in another regular poly mailer. Today the buyer messaged me and said that she received an empty package and sent 3 photos of both the clear bag and the poly mailer empty with the poly mailer torn on the back. I've been reselling for 10 years and never had this happen before. How do I handle this one?

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Honestly, I would ask the buyer in messages to "open a return but to give me 24 hours to issue a refund as I don't want them to ship back an empty bag," once the return is open I would then issue the refund, done.

Yes, I get what that means but sometimes it's just best to do things this way.

[gamersbaystore]

So awesome to hear ebay sided with you, and they should have! it seems ebay too has gotten fed up with all scammers running wild here. Any time a buyer pulls an empty package scam, the first thing I do is check for notes in the tracking. If there's nothing there from USPS, then they are lying.

As for the negative, the case was closed in your favor so you can be assured it will get removed. As for refunding, I definitely would not.

[yabe2u]

If it shows delivered then you did your part. Same as if a package was stolen from their porch or mail box after delivered. You have done everything in your power and you are not liable. Imagine how many people would scam sellers if it were to be your fault. Now if USPS puts a damage and missing label on it, it would be insurance that would cover it.

[yabe2u]

And that's unfortunate but it was someone else that didn't do their job, not the seller. Still not his fault and eBay will rule in his favor though if the item is cheap enough, eBay may cover the cost for the buyer.